Device for fastening doors, windows, and the like



July 30, 1 H. c. RITTERSON DEVICE FOR FASTENING DOORS, WINDOWS, AND THELIKE Filed Oct. 5, 1927 9. Gummy M Km FM July 30,1929. I c. RITTERSON1,722,355

. DEVICE FOR FASTENING noons wnmows', AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 5, 1927 2SheatS She'et 2 r r m QMQ 240 V Ht'NfiYGR/TTERSON I I; $3M L:

Patented July 39, 1929.

UITE TTS HENRY C. BITTERSON, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR FASTENING DOORS, WIHDOWS, AND THE l'illKlil;

Application filed October 5, 1927. Serial No. 22%,212.

This invention relates to devices for fastening doors, windows and thelike an d has particular reference to devices for holding doors orwindows ajar in different positionsrfor ventilation.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thekind mentioned which is rugged and noiseless for ships and trains,although it is at the same time suitable for use in houses and otherbuildings where anything of the kind may be needed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the kindmentioned which cannot be detached or disconnected from the outside eventhough the door or window is open as far as the device will permit it togo.

With the foregoing and incidental objects in View the invention consistsin a novel construction and arrangement of parts, the novel features ofwhich are pointed out in the claims appended hereto, and an illustrativeembodiment of which is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming apart of this specification.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation the various parts of the apparatus in thepositions they occupy when the device is not in use.

2 is a top plan view partly in section 90 showing the parts in thepositions they occupy when the device has been operated to hold a doorajar.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus with the parts in the samepositions as they occupy in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4c is a section on the line ie-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 in Fig. 1.

Described in general terms the apparatus shown in the drawings comprisestwo plates, one of which is secured by screws or the like to the doorjam and the other is similarly fastened to the door. Each of theseplates has a dove-tail member adapted to be engaged by a dove-tailgroove in the base of a co-operating part of the apparatus so as topermit a sliding engagement of the parts. Tn each instance the base ofthe member carrying the dove-tail groove is large enough to cover thescrews used for attaching the plates to the door and door jamb, therebymaking it impossible to get at the attaching member until the parts havebeen disconnected by disengaging the dove-tail and dovetail groove.

In order to prevent an accidental disconneetion. of the dove-tailedparts on both the door and the door jamb small locking screws used to.hold the two parts in engagement. These locking screws are preferablybelow the adjacent surfaces of the connected parts and cannot readily belocated and removed while the door is locked ajar. Even if they could beremoved the organization is such that the dove-tailed parts cannot bedisengaged from the outside. In order to contribute further to thesecurity of the appa ratus, each of the locking screws may be pro videdwith a drop of solder on its head to cover and conceal the screw slot.If the solder is used as suggested, a new slot. can be cut in the solderacross the head of the screw when it is desired to remove the lockingscrew preparatory to disconnecting the 'dovetailed parts.

The device in the drawings also comprises an arm or link which has aball-socket connection with the parts attached to the door frame, withthe adjacent walls of the socket so shaped as to limit movement of thearm or link to horizontal and vertical planes. The movement in thehorizontal plane is to permit engagement of the arm or link with a lockbolt and movement of the door to different positions, while the movementin the vertical plane is to permit swinging the arm or link down out ofthe road when the apparatus is not in use. A spring co-operting with theball in the ball and socket joint serves to insure frictional engagementof the ball and" socket and cooperates with a'leaf spring latch engagingthe arm or link when the latter is depressed in a vertical plane to holdthe arm or link from rattling when the apparatus is not in use.

Describing the apparatus more in detail and with particular reference tothe drawings, the door jamb 10 and door 11 are respectively equippedwith plates 12 and13, fastened in position by means of screws 14. Theplates are counter-sunk to accommodate the heads of the screws sothatthe heads are flush or below the adjacent surfaces of the plates.

The plate 12 is provided with a dove-tail 16 which tapers slightlyrelative to the edge of the door jamb. Associated with the plate 12 is amember 17 carrying in its base a dovetail groove 18 cooperating with thedove-tail 16. The base of the member 17 is of sufficient .eXtent tocover and conceal the screws 14 ized disconnection of the member 17 andplate 12, both the member and plate are pro ided with holes for a smallscrew 21. The member 17 is counter-sunk so that the head of the screw 21isbelow the adjacent surface and, as before stated generally, the heado1 the screw 21 may be given a drop oi solder so as to-cover and concealthe slot in its head.

The member 17 is shaped to form a socket 22 in which ismounted a ball 23on the end of an arm or link 24. (lo-operating with the ball 23 is aspring 25 which tends at all times to hold the ball in good t'rictionalcontactwith the interior of the socket 22.

The portion of the element 17 which con tains the socket 22 is cut awayas shewn at 27 and 28 to clear a reduced portion 29 on the arm 2a. Infact, the lower part oi the socket is cut out deeply enough (as shown at31) to permit swinging the arm 2t down in a vertical plane to a verticalposition (as shown in Figs. 3 and 5) when the device is not in use.

Fastened between the plate 12 and the member 17 is an element 32, theother end of which is secured to the door amb by a screw Integral withthe member are two leaf-springs 3a suitably shaped to engage with a slot35 extending substantially the full length of the arm 24. The parts ofthe springs 34 which engage the arm 2st are so shaped as to hold the armin vertical position with a portion 36 thereof in firm engagement withthe bottom of a slot 37 in the member 17 thereby assisting in theprevention of rattling or vibrating.

The plate 13 attached to the door 11 carries the grooved part of thedove-tailed conneetion 38 (Fig. 4-) between the plate and a bracket 39,the base of the bracket 39, being large enough to cover and conceal thescrews let for attaching the plate 13 to the door 11. After the membersof the dove-tail are engaged a screw a0 is put in position to preventdisconnecting the bracket from the plate. The screw 4-0 may, aspreviously mentionet in connection with the screw 21, haveits headbeaded with solder after it is in position so as to increase thedil'l'iculty oi removing the screw.

The bracket 39 carries at its outer end a cylindrical member :41 inwhich is slidably mounted'a bolt 42, The cylindrical portion is'providedwith two cam slots a3 and n to accommodate theshai't of an operatinghandle or knob a5 riveted in the bolt l2. T he construction of the camslot 4C3 is such that it the handle 45 is operated to and fro in theslot the bolt will be given a reciprocating vell as a rotary motion. Theslot 4% will act in the same way, but is only provided so that the samebracket 39 can be used in connection with a door opening at theright-hand side or in cases where, for some reason, it might bedesirable to mount the bolt on the door jamb instead of upon the door.

The bolt L2 has a reduced portion 47 of sutliei'ent diameter to en agerather closely wit the slot 35 in the arm or link 24;. The slot 35 has awidened portion 51 which is preferably circular in shape and of adiameterwhich is only a little greater than a head 52 oi the bolt Inorder to engage the bolt with the slot 35, it is necessary first toclose the door and then swing the arm 24 to pass the circular opening 51over the head52 of the bolt, after which movement of the door will causeengagement of the reduced portion 4.7 of the bolt with the slot 35.After the door has been moved to the desired position the handle 45 isoperated, therebycausing the bolt 42 to be moved enawise to clamp thevmaterial, although it is of course advantageous to use materials whichcannot easily be cut or bent by someone who is attempting to burglarizea room.

lWhile the embodiment shown and de scr'bed is admirably adapted tofulfill the purposes primarily set forth, it is obvious that theinvention is capable of various embodiments, with suitable modificationsand changes, all coming within the scope of the clain'is which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A door ajar fastener comprisinga jamb plate, a link member having aball and socket connection at one of its ends with the jamb plate, saidconnection being' constructed to confine the movements of the linkmember to movement in a horizontal plane or to movements in a verticalplane, a door bracket, a sliding bolt in the bracket provided with meansfor engaging the link to clamp the link and brackettogether in variouspositions of the door, means for operating the bolt for the purposestated, and devices for yieldingly holding the link in vertical positionwhen the link is not in use.

In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination with theframe surrounding'an opening and a movable closure for the opening of aplate fastened by means 01 screws or the like to the frame adjacent theopening, a member having a dovetailand dovetail groove connection withsaid plate and constructed to cover the fastening screws for the plate,a plate attached by screws or the like to the closure, a member having adovetail and dovetail groove connection with the plate last mentioned,devices carried by the two members constructed to be engaged and thenoperated to fasten the closure in different positions with respect tothe frame, and means whereby the fastening operation may be effected.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with theframe surrounding an opening and a movable closure for the opening, of aplate fastened by means of screws or the like to tne frame adjacent theopening, member having a dovetail and dovetail groove sliding connectionwith said plate and constructed to cover the fastening screws for theplate, an arm having a ball and socket connection at one of its endswith said member, said connection being constructed to limit movement ofthe arm to movement in horizontal and vertical planes, a spring in thesocket yieldingly engaging the ball, a plate attached by screws or thelike to the closure, a member having a dovetail and dovetail grooveconnection with the plate last mentioned and constructed to cover theattaching screws therefor, a bolt supported by the last mentioned memberhaving a portion thereof constructed to engage and grip the pivoted arm,and means for operating the bolt to grip and release the arm.

4:. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with theframe surrounding an opening and a movable closure for the opening of aplate fastened by means of screws or the like to the frame adjacent theopening, a member comprising a base large enough to cover the attachingscrews and slidably connected with said plate with provisions forlimiting the sliding member relative to the opening, an arm having aball and socket connection with said member and a slot extending thegreater part of the length 1 of the arm, a bracket secured to theclosure, a bolt movable in the bracket and having an enlarged headcooperating with the slotted portion of the arm, and means for operatingthe bolt to clamp the aforesaid arm between the enlarged head of thebolt and the bracket. 5. In an apparatus of the character de scribed,the combination with the frame surrounding an opening and a movableclosure for the opening, of a plate fastened by means of screws or thelike to the frame, a member large enough to cover the attaching screwsand slidably connected with said plate with provisions for limiting thesliding movement of the member relative to tire opening, an arm having aball and socket connection with said member and a slot extending thegreater part of the length of the arm, said slot having widened portionin its end nearest the ball and socket, a bracket secured to theclosure, a bolt movable in the bracket and having an enlarged head to bepassed through the enlarged portion of the aforesaid slot and the boltthen engaged with the slot by movement of the closure, and means foroperating the bolt t clamp the aforesaid arm between the enlarged headof the bolt and the bracket.

6. A door ajar stop comprising a plate fastened by means of screws orthe like to the frame adjacent the opening, a member slidably atached tosaid plate large enough to cover the attaching screws with cooperatingprovisions for limiting the extent of sliding movement of the member, anarm having a ball and socket connection at one of its ends with saidmember, said conn ction being cone strueted to limit movement'of the armto movement in horizontal and vertical planes, means comprising a leafspring for holding the arm in a vertical position when engaged with thespring, a spring in the socket cooperating with the ball to yieldinglyhold the ball and socket in engagement, a plate fastened by screws orthe like to the closure, a member having a sliding engagement with theplate last mentioned with provisions for limiting the sliding movementof the member in one direction relative to the plate, a bolt movablysupported by the last mentioned member, means moving with the bolt andoperable to grip the aforesaid arm to lock the closure in differentpositions with respect to the frame, and means whereby the bolt may beoperated to effect the locking and unlocking operations.

7. In a device of the character described, a plate fastened by screws orthe like to the door jamb and carrying one member of a dovetailconnection, a bracket carrying the other member of a dovetail connectionin its base, said base being of sufiicient extent to cover the attachingscrews for the plate when the members of the dovetail are fittedtogether, a screw preventing disengagement of the dovetail members, asocket in the bracket cut away at the sides and bottom, a link having aball on one end engaged in said socket and having the body thereofconstructed to engage the cuts in the sides of the socket when the linkis swung in a horizontal plane and with the out at the bottom of thesocket when the'arm is swung in a vertical plane, a spring in the socketcooperating with the ball on the link to hold the ball against theinterior of the socket in all positions ofthe link, a plate secured tothe door by screws or the like and carrying one member of a dovetailconnection, a bracket carrying the other member of the dovetailconnection on its base and having the base large attaching screws forthe door plate when the two members of the dovetail are fitted together,locking screw for preventing disengagement of the two members of thedovetail, a bolt mounted in the bracket lastmentioned and constructed toengage the aforesaid v V and clamp same against the bolt bracket, andmeans for effecting movements of the bolt to clamp and unclamp the link.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto affix my s1gnature,

easier o, si m oiv.

enough to conceal the link

